Short Throated vs. Long Throated Flumes

For water management systems across the country, there is no more useful tool for managing flow and taking measurements than flumes. Although there are many different styles of flumes available, they generally fall into one of two categories: short throated and long throated. Both of these flume designations have their strengths and weakness, meaning you need more information before making an installation choice for your operation.

Picking the right flume means the increased success that you want and need for your water management operation. Learn about the differences between short throated flumes and long throated flumes, and find out which is right for your water management operation.

Data Collection

Measuring flow is reliant on understanding and applying the right flow equations. While this is a straightforward task when the equations are standard, it becomes very complicated when several equations are needed across a single operation.

One of the issues with using a long throated flume is that they are customized to a specific operation and channel, meaning they have no industry standard equations, especially for permanent or portable installations. These complex equations require an additional tool to be able to analyze your flow measurement data effectively.

Short throated flumes, on the other hand, will use the same equations no matter the situation, making them a better choice for operations that value simplicity.

Standard Installs

If you work in an operation that has unusual channel sizes or other complications, long throated flumes are a better choice than their short throated counterparts. Short throated flumes, no matter the type, come in standardized sizes, which can limit their installation applications.

Long throated flumes, as previously mentioned, can be customized to the exact needs of your water management operations, meaning your flume will fit the dimensions of your channel precisely. Matching your flume to the dimensions of your channel guarantees more accurate measurements and an increased ability to manage flows.

Although non-standardization can be a drawback in some regards, it allows full throated flumes to be tailored to your needs.

Which Flume is More Accurate?

Lastly, but most importantly for water management systems, it’s important to examine which flume design is more accurate. While they are fairly close in terms of accurate measurements, long throated flumes have the slight edge in this category, offering an error rate of about 2% compared to the 3.5% error rate of short throated flumes.

Another concern when it comes to flume accuracy is submergence, which is when the flume is submerged downstream. Where almost all types of short throated flumes are vulnerable to submergence, long throated flumes are highly resistant, making them the better choice for operations where this is a concern.

Get Long Throated Flumes for Your Operation

After examining all the information, it’s clear that long throated flumes provide your water management operation with the utility and versatility you need for consistent success. Equip your operation with long throated flumes from Tracom, FRP today.

Tracom specializes in outfitting operations like yours with the highest quality fiberglass flumes available, ensuring both long term durability and an easy installation. Request a quote from Tracom today and install great long throated flumes in your operation.